skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Friction and wear performance of diamondlike carbon films grown in various source gas plasmas

Conference ·
OSTI ID:751832

In this study, the authors investigated the effects of various source gases (methane, ethane, ethylene, and acetylene) on the friction and wear performance of diamondlike carbon (DLC) films prepared in a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system. Films were deposited on AISI H13 steel substrates and tested in a pin-on-disk machine against DLC-coated M50 balls in dry nitrogen. They found a close correlation between friction coefficient and source gas composition. Specifically, films grown in source gases with higher hydrogen-to-carbon ratios exhibited lower friction coefficients and higher wear resistance than films grown in source gases with lower hydrogen-to-carbon (H/C) ratios. The lowest friction coefficient (0.014) was achieved with a film derived from methane with an WC ratio of 4, whereas the coefficient of films derived from acetylene (H/C = 1) was of 0.15. Similar correlations were observed for wear rates. Specifically, films derived from gases with lower H/C values were worn out and the substrate material was exposed, whereas films from methane and ethane remained intact and wore at rates that were nearly two orders of magnitude lower than films obtained from acetylene.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
751832
Report Number(s):
ANL/ET/CP-97453; TRN: AH200019%%73
Resource Relation:
Conference: International Conference on Metallurgical Coatings and Thin Films, San Diego, CA (US), 04/12/1999--04/16/1999; Other Information: PBD: 18 Jan 2000
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Superlubricity and wearless sliding in diamondlike carbon films.
Conference · Thu Dec 13 00:00:00 EST 2001 · OSTI ID:751832

Effect of source gas chemistry on tribological performance of diamond-like carbon films.
Conference · Mon Aug 23 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · OSTI ID:751832

Synthesis of diamondlike carbon films with superlow friction and wear properties
Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2000 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films · OSTI ID:751832